It's Now Illegal To Text While Crossing The Street In Honolulu

Pedestrians walk past a "Look!" sign on the crosswalk at the intersection of 42nd Street and Second Avenue in New York. Cities all over the country are looking for ways to get pedestrians to pay more attention.
Seth Wenig/AP
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Seth Wenig/AP

Pedestrians walk past a "Look!" sign on the crosswalk at the intersection of 42nd Street and Second Avenue in New York. Cities all over the country are looking for ways to get pedestrians to pay more attention.

Seth Wenig/AP

Look both ways before you cross the street; and if you're in Honolulu, make sure to put away your phone, too.

This week, the city became the first major U.S. city to pass legislation targeting texters and other "distracted walkers" as they step off the curb.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed the bill, also known as the "Distracted Walking Law," on Thursday, after it was passed 7-2 earlier this month by the city council.

"We hold the unfortunate distinction of being a major city with more pedestrians being hit in crosswalks, particularly our seniors, than almost any other city in the county," Caldwell said, according to Reuters.

The Honolulu Police Department will begin enforcing the law on Oct. 25. Until then the department, which supports the law, will implement a three-month training and warning period, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

After the law goes into effect, first-time violators will be fined $15-$35; second-time violators within the same year will be on the hook for $35-$75; and those who get ticketed a third time will be charged $75-$99.

The law doesn't only target cellphone users; those using laptops, digital cameras or video games will also be expected not to look at them while crossing the street.